A calf tear kept Davis out of the first two contests of 2019, but he made up ground quickly with 9.6 tackles per game, third best in the league. Davis remains a liability in coverage, but his ability to stop the run and quarterback the defense led Denver's brass to pick up his option and not select an inside backer until Day 3 of the draft. He should be a three-down fixture in a contract year. Read Past Outlooks

ANALYSISThe 2019 season was essentially a contract year for Davis, as the team would have saved $4.5 million against the salary cap by declining the option. Davis proved his value, though, racking up a career-high 134 tackles in 2019, and he will be rewarded with another year in Denver. The 27-year-old is in line to start again in 2020.

If the Vikings roll out to an early lead over the Redskins, expect Washingtons linebackers, including Ryan Kerrigan, to have a big day.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

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2016

2015

He isn't exactly Roquan Smith, but new coach Vic Fangio likely will turn Davis into his new standout at inside linebacker all the same. Davis' 2018 production was already strong, as his 114 tackles occurred on a modest 842 snaps, which would project to roughly 135 on a 1,000-snap workload. New blitzing opportunities should open up for Davis with Fangio's arrival, furthermore, as Bears starters Smith and Danny Trevathan combined for seven sacks last year. Even if he doesn't round out his box score with playmaking stats, Davis' tackle production is safe.

Davis has racked up 179 total tackles in his two seasons as a starter and was rewarded with a new three-year deal that GM John Elway attributed as much to the linebacker's leadership as his play on the field. Davis can be forgiven for looking over his shoulder, however, after Elway promptly drafted two inside linebackers in the 2018 draft. Davis has been at his best when coming downhill to stuff the run but has struggled in coverage in Denver's man-heavy scheme. In comes fourth-rounder Josey Jewell who, despite being an average athlete, was one of the NCAA's most effective coverage linebackers. Davis, whose contract includes just a $2 million cap hit if cut in 2019, might not stick around much longer if he isn't able to round out his game.

Another offseason, another post-draft debate in Denver as to why the team has not invested a high pick on an inside linebacker. Brandon Marshall (fifth rounder in 2012 for Jacksonville) and Corey Nelson (seventh rounder in 2014 for Denver) are the only inside linebackers on Denver's roster who were drafted. It was Davis, who was an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State originally signed by New Orleans in 2014, that led the team with 97 total tackles in his first full season as a starter in 2016. Davis has seldom had a problem as a thumper against the run, but the liability he causes in coverage has led for him to be subbed out by Nelson or even safety T.J. Ward on passing downs. Davis, who led the team's inside backers with 697 snaps in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, saw 55 percent of his snaps against the run, 40 percent in coverage, and five percent as a rusher in 2016. By comparison, fellow starter Brandon Marshall was on the field for 596 snaps -- 45 percent against the run, 49 percent in coverage, and six percent as a rusher -- and Nelson was on the field for 543 snaps -- 42 percent against the run, 48 percent in coverage, and 10 percent as a rusher. With the coaching staff clearly making a conscious effort to get him off the field in passing situations, Davis is unlikely to pick up the interception and sack numbers to differentiate himself from other linebackers in the league.

Davis is in line to replace the departed Danny Trevathan as the Broncos' starting inside linebacker opposite Brandon Marshall. Despite being an undrafted rookie out of Sacramento State in 2014, this is not uncharted territory for Davis who has started two games in each of his two seasons in the league. He tallied 18 tackles and two passes defended in those contests.

A long shot to make the roster, Davis will act as a depth linebacker if he can avoid being cut.

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Lays the boom in 2019

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Davis finished the 2019 campaign with 134 total tackles and a pass defensed.